The Environment Agency (EA) has encouraged communities along the River Thames to prepare for further potential flooding, with the Met Office now forecasting more heavy rain and gales in the south east for the next four days.

On Tuesday afternoon, one flood warning was in place for the River Thames in Surrey - at Sunbury, from Wheatley's Eyot to Sunbury Court Island including Wheatley's Eyot, Sunburylock Ait, Sunbury Ait, Sunbury Court Island and properties on the The Creek, Parke Road, Thames Street and Lower Hampton Road.

The EA warning said: "River levels on the Thames at Sunbury remain very high but are currently stable. Property flooding is still expected close to the river.

"The Thames will remain sensitive to further forecast rainfall and is likely to rise again later in the week.

"The Environment Agency will continue to monitor the situation and update this message as it changes."

The Met Office has a yellow warning of wind in place for the region on Wednesday, saying "severe gales are expected to arrive during the daytime."

There is now also a yellow warning of rain from Thursday right through to Saturday.

The forecast said: "A further spell of heavy and persistent rain now seems much more likely to affect much of southern England on Thursday evening and during the first part of Friday... another area of heavy rain will reach the far south-west of the country late on Friday evening and spread across remaining areas during Saturday morning. The rain will be accompanied by very strong winds."

Dave Bedlington, EA flood risk manager, said: "The forecast suggests that a lot of rain could fall across the south east over the next few days, and with river and groundwater levels already high and responsive this could lead to further property flooding in the coming days.

"EA teams are working around the clock to prepare for the rainfall by operating pumping stations, issuing flood warnings, and checking that flood banks, walls and barriers are working effectively.

"We will continue to monitor the situation very closely and we are urging communities to prepare in advance by signing up for free flood warnings and to take action if they receive one."

A number of flood alerts were also in place across the county at:

Lower River Wey including Guildford, Old Woking, Byfleet, and Weybridge and the East Clandon Stream at Send

Cranleigh Waters including Elmbridge, Shamley Green and Bramley and the Littlemead Brook including Cranleigh

River Thames from Hampton and Thames Ditton to Teddington including Hampton Wick and Kingston-upon-Thames